The sheer number of creatures in the ocean was incalculable. If they began to consistently invade land, it would be nothing short of a natural disaster for humanity. What made matters worse was NYC's location. As a coastal city connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River, it had a direct link to the sea. Although there had been no signs of Abyss Crawlers in freshwater yet, their amphibious nature made it impossible to rule out a future attack along the river and its extensive estuary system."The ocean is too vast, and with our current equipment, we can't even think about exploring it," Zack muttered as he leaned on his workbench, deep in thought.
Based on the satellite footage, a single Abyss Crawlers was roughly as strong as a hunter. Their thick carapace provided incredible defense, making them formidable opponents. But what made them truly dangerous was their sheer number.
While Zack's mechanical army could provide suppression through concentrated firepower, the limitation was always ammunition. Once supplies ran out, the skimmers could easily overwhelm the machines with their crab-like pincers, tearing through steel as if it were paper.
Tianri's last battle had proven this. Satellite footage showed the skimmers not only moving quickly on land but also scaling walls and tearing apart armored vehicles with frightening ease. "I just can't understand it," Zack muttered, staring at a 3D projection of a sea skimmer. "What kind of virus can infect mammals, birds, fish—and now even crustaceans? It's like some alien civilization developed this as a bioweapon to wipe out humanity."
"Sir, while the probability is low, the possibility of alien involvement cannot be entirely ruled out," Ego responded.
Zack sighed. "I guess figuring out the origin of this virus needs to be added to our agenda."
With NYC Base and the northern base now secured, Zack knew it was time to shift focus from survival to understanding the origins of the Zeta virus. "Still, that's a problem for later. For now, we need to prioritize protecting against these ocean threats," Zack said, pushing aside his thoughts about the virus's origins.
The only lead he had was the Vanguard Organization, the group that first discovered the virus. But pursuing that would have to wait. "Sir, perhaps you could develop deep-sea armor," Ego suggested.
"Armor must be developed—but should I personally test its limits?" Zack shook his head decisively. "No. Let the mechanical beasts handle it."
The ocean held far too many unknowns. Zack, ever cautious, wasn't about to risk venturing into the deep sea himself—a realm steeped in mystery and danger. "Mechanical beasts?" Ego caught on quickly. "Sir, are you planning to develop a new type of mechanical beast specifically for deep-sea combat?"
"Not combat—monitoring," Zack corrected, his tone calm but resolute. "The ocean is vast, and its creatures are too numerous to eliminate entirely. Even if we could wipe them out, it would spell ecological disaster for the planet." As he spoke, Zack picked up a pen and began sketching designs. His plan was to develop a reconnaissance underwater drone capable of patrolling rivers and coastal areas. This would give him an early warning system, allowing him ample time to prepare defenses if marine creatures approached.
"If they make it onto land," Zack continued, "they're still dangerous, but far more manageable than fighting them underwater."
"So your approach to marine threats is focused on prevention?" Ego inquired.
Zack nodded. "For now, yes. But I know prevention alone won't solve the root problem."
Without waiting for a response, Zack added, "That's why I'm considering leveraging the biotechnology in your database. If I can develop a controllable biological virus to infect marine life, we could trigger mutations that force them to fight each other. Let the mutations neutralize each other—it's a way to contain the Zeta virus without direct intervention." His words were cold, calculated, and devoid of hesitation.
"Sir, that's a high-risk plan," Ego cautioned. "If it fails, it could lead to irreversible damage to the planet's ecosystem."
"But if it works, it could contain or even eliminate marine threats without further effort," Zack countered as his pen moved swiftly across the page. "Of course, the virus must be strictly controllable, but let's table that for now. First, we'll focus on building this little project."
Zack tapped the paper, and the two-dimensional sketch transformed into a 3D holographic projection of his design. The model resembled a octopus with a mechanical structure. Its body was oval-shaped, with sixteen mechanical tentacles extending from its base.
The mechanical octopus was equipped with cutting-edge detection capabilities, including light sensors, heat sensors, radar, and sonar. Its "head" featured a cluster of red, multi-lensed eyes for enhanced visual coverage.
In terms of weaponry, fifteen of its tentacles were armed: eleven with alloy steel claw-like tips, two with high-energy particle emitters, and two with discharge points capable of delivering electrical shocks. The sixteenth tentacle was dedicated to a deep-sea communication enhancer.
While not designed for heavy combat, the mechanical octopus excelled in speed, detection, and communication. It could patrol an area within several kilometers, communicate at depths of up to 800 meters, and travel underwater at a maximum speed of 220 kilometers per hour. "How long will it take to produce?" Zack asked as he shut off the hologram and burned the sketches.
"Approximately three hours, sir," Ego replied. NYC Base's efficiency had improved drastically. Under Scott's management, the southern base was now operational, contributing resources and manpower. Every day, transport planes moved supplies between the two bases, accelerating production capabilities.
The manufacturing of a mechanical octopus prototype, which once would have taken days, could now be completed in mere hours. "Three hours?" Zack raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Not bad."
He couldn't help but reflect on how far they'd come. Back when he first started, it had taken him days to cobble together a crude prototype of the MV-01 armor. Now, building a complex machine with thousands of parts took less time than preparing a meal. "This is just for the prototype," Ego added. "Once the model passes field testing and enters mass production, efficiency will increase even further."
The sheer power of mechanization was on full display. With around 500 manufacturing bugs operating simultaneously, the base could manage multiple projects without sacrificing productivity. The mechanical beasts, Aegis, Goliath, Unmanned Power armors, and more were all being produced at record speeds.
"Oh, by the way," Zack said suddenly, "discontinue the production of spiders. The model is outdated and no longer meets our needs. Recycling the materials would be a waste." He recalled sketching an upgraded design for the spider during the goliath project but hadn't finalized the details.
"What about the mechanical dogs?" Ego asked.
"Keep producing them," Zack replied. "But focus less on heavy weaponry. Shift their design toward base security instead of battlefield deployment."
The mechanical dogs' advanced AI made them invaluable for patrolling and securing the base, even if they weren't suited for frontline combat. "Understood, sir. Your orders have been implemented," Ego confirmed.
At the NYC Airport, the mechanical beast manufacturing area immediately adjusted its production lines. The poisonous spider model was discontinued, and resources were reallocated to other projects.
The efficiency of machines was unparalleled, a stark contrast to human labor. "That should do it," Zack said, leaning back. "With the octopus still a few hours from completion, I've got just enough time to finalize the spider upgrade."